Control device for fluid fuel



July 10, 1956 w. J. RUSSELL CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNERS Filed March 3, 1954 NNN um & &w m

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2,754,060 CONTROL DEVICE FOR FLUID FUEL BURNERS William J. Russell, Jeannette, Pa., assignor to Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Company, Greensburg, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application March 3, 1954, Serial No. 413,751 13 Claims. (Cl. 236-1) In this respect, the device U. S. Patent No. 2,361,945

relatively low temperature.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing, in cross section, a control device embodying this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the control device comprises a casing 10 provided at one end with a lateral inlet opening 12 adapted for connection to a source (not shown) of fluid fuel and at the other end with an outlet opening 14 adapted for connection to a main burner (not shown). Formed in the central portion of the casing 10 is a valve chamber 16 which action clicker mechanism of well known form including a thrust element 36 The bellows is supported on one end of a pivoted lever 46 which is biased into engagement therewith by a coil spring 48 seated on the housing 38. The lever 46 isnprovided' with an abutment 148 engageable with: the thrustelement 36 of the clicker mechanism. Consequently, clockwise movement of the'lever 46; as viewed in-Fig; 1- of the drawings, under the bias of the spring 48 will cause upwardmovement ofthe valve stem 26 and valve member-28.

The thermally responsive means justedyfrom the front of the; casing 10 to set the temperature at which the valve member 28 will be operated. The adjusting means takes'the form. of a stem 50 which threadedly engages the casing 10 and extends therethrough into operative engagement with. the bellows 40. The stem- 50 carries on its projecting end the usual dial 52 carrying indicia: High, Medium, Low, and Night off for selective registryv with a registry point 54 on the casing .10.- Preferably, the Night oil indicia indicates a temperature setting lower than. the Low setting.

Thermoelectric means is provided for moving the valve member 28 to closed position upon the occurrence of certainconditions to. be described and irrespective of the thermal condition of the thermal element 40-44. To

this end,. a magnet housing56 is slidably mounted in the valve chamber 16in axial alignment with the valve stem.

26 and valve member 28. An electromagnet comprising a. horseshoe frame 58 is mounted within the magnet housing 56' and is provided with the usual winding 60.

The. winding 60-is connected through suitable conductors 62 to athermocouple 64.

Anvarmature 66 is supported within themagnet housing 56 on an armaturestem 685 which projects to the exterior of the magnet housing 56 and which is disposed in axial alignment with the valve stem 26. The armature 66 is movable between attracted and released positions relative' to: the pole faces of the magnet frame 58: and is biased toward the released position by a spring acting between the magnet housing 56 and. a collar 7-1 secured to the armature stem 68. In the released position of the armature 66, the armature stem 68 will be positioned in.

engagement with the valve member 28 with. the spring 70- acting to hold the valve member 28 in engagement with the valve'seat 22 despiteany forces which maybe exerted on the valve stem 26 by the amplifying: levers- 34'of the clicker mechanism.

As is weil known, the electrical energy generated by the thermocouple 64 armature 66 from its released position but will be .sufficient to hold the same in attracted position'after the usual resetting operation has been conducted. Consequently, manual resetting means is provided for positioning the armature 66 inits attracted position in engagement with the pole faces of the magnet frame 58-; To this end, at

plunger 72- is secured to the magnet housing 56 in axial alignment with the armature-stemfifland' one endlthere-- of projects outof the casing 10; The projecting end of? the plunger 72' carries a push button acting between the push button 74 and the casing 10 serves to bias the assembly of the magnet housing 56, plunger 72 and push button 74 away from the valve member 28. Thus, the spring 76 serves to hold the armature stem 68 member 28- when position.

A pilot burner outlet passage 78 is formed in the casing 10 and adapted the armature 66- is in its attracted burner: 82 is disposed adjacent thethermocouple 64. and the rate of, fuel flow to the. pilot burner 82 is regulated.

by. a. suitable plugv alve member: 84. mounted in. the; 78; The pilots outlet passage: 781 communicates with-a valve chamber 86': formed in the and communi-u pilot outlet; passage:

casing 10 adjacent the valve chamber 16 is adapted to be adwill be insufiicient toattract the.

74' and a spring 76 out of engagement with the valvefor connection to a conduit which communicates with a pilot burner 82'. The'pilot eating therewith through a passage 88. Thus, fuel may be supplied to the pilot burner 82 from the inlet 12 through the valve chamber 16, passage 88, valve chamber 86, outlet passage '78, and conduit 80.

Flow of fuel to the outlet passage 78 is under the control of pilot valve means disposed within the valve chamber 86. This means is here shown as comprising an annular valve seat 90', formed on the casing 10 within the valve chamber 86, and a disc valve member 92 movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat 90. The valve member 92 is biased toward the valve seat 90 by a spring 94 and is also operatively associated with the thermoelectric means to be positioned in its open position during the resetting operation and whenever the armature 66 is in its attracted position.

The operative connection between the valve member 92 and the thermoelectric means is here shown as including. a valve stem 96depending from the valve member 92 and projecting, through a bore 98 formed in the casing: 10, into the valve chamber 1 6. The valve stem 96engages oneendi of a lever l-tillwhich is pivoted=inter=- mediate. its endson the armature stem 68; The other end of the leverdtltltispivotally connected to a. bracket 102' which depends from: the magnet casing 56 and is secured thereto for. movement therewith. With such an arrangement, downward movement, as viewed in Fig.v 1, of the magnet housing 56 during the resetting operation will cause downward movement of the bracket 102 and counterclockwise rotation of the lever. to move the valve stem 96 upward and carry the valve member 92' out of engagementwith the valve seat 90.

Upon completion of the resetting operation, the magnet housing 56 moves upward under the bias of the spring 76, carrying: the attracted armature 66 and armature stem 68' therewith. Upward movement of the armature" stem 68 will causeth'e lever 100 to move bodily upwardso'that the same will continue to hold the valve member 92. out of engagement with the valve seat 90;

To maintain a: low. flame: at the. main burner when the main control valve 28 is closed' by the action of the thermalelement 40 -44, by pass means is provided for supplying fuel to the outlet 14. This means takes the fornroft a bypass passage 104-formed in the casing. 10' to communicate with the outlet 14 and with: the pilot outlet passage 78 downstream of the pilot valve 90, 92). The rate of fuel flow through the by-pass passage 104 is controlled bya plugvalve=member 106 disposed therein.

Fuelflowinathe by-pass passage 104 is also controlled by by-pass valvemeans which takes the form of a valve seat 108 formed on-the casing 10 within the passage 104 and a disc valvemember 1510 movable into and out ofengagementwith the valve seat 108. The valve member 110'is biased away'fromthe valve seat 108 by a spring 112 to normally hold the valve member 110- in afuel flow permitting-position. However, means is provided for moving the by-pass valve member 110 into engage-- rnent' with the valve seat 108"to:prevent fuel flow through the by-pass passage 104 during the resetting operation and whenever the temperature setting'dial 52 ismoved to a relatively low temperature setting as indicated by the indicia Night ofi'thereon.

More particularly, a valve stem 114 is-secured to the valve' member 110 and extends through abore 116 formed in the casing 10; the valve stem il' i'projectiug beyond? the frontpanel of the casing 10; Extending across the front: panel of the casing. 10 and mounted tliereonzby'a pivot 118 is an operating'lever 120. The operating: lever. 120-is disposed: adjacent the push button 74; extends beneath thetemperature setting dial 521 and overlies the projecting end of the valve stem 114.

Theioperatingslever lilflisadapted-to-be rotated in a clockwiseadirection as viewed: in: Fig; l to depress the valve stem: and move: the; valve member lit): into engagement with the valve. seat 1118! by.- a cam elementi 122 which is secured to the'stem sll to 'rotate therewith.

member 28 is opened by operation of the thermal element 4il44.

To prevent fuel flow through the by-pass passage 104 during the resetting operation and thus assure safe lighting, a lug 124 is secured to the operating lever 120 to downward, thereby bringing the pole faces of the magnet frame 58 into engagement with the armature 66 and pivoting the lever 100 in a counterclockwise direction to position the pilot valve member 92 out of engagement The dial 52 may be adjusted to the ture setting. Operation of the dial 52 setting to 50 slightly from the casing 10. under the bias of the spring movement of the bellows 40 As the bellows 40 is 48, a corresponding axial will occur accompanied by also under the bias of ment of the lever 46. causes return snap action of the clicker mechanism permitting spring 30 to close the valve member 28 against its seat 22.

Upon closing of the main valve member 28, fuel flow to the main burner will be reduced to a minimum as deby flow through the by-pass passage 104. As soon as the temperature sensed by the bulb 44 drops below that position the indicia Night off in registry with the mark 54. Such movement of the dial 52 will screw the stem 50 into the casing the bellows 40 downward against the bias of 48. As is well known in devices of this type, such movement of the bellows 40 will result in its actuating the valve member 28 at relatively low temperatures. 52 is moved to the Night off position, the cam 122 is sensed by the thermal element 4044.

In the event that flow to the main burner 82 and the shut-01f this invention.

burner or to the, pilot feature is retained in it will be understood that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a control device for fluid fuel burners, the combination of a casing having main inlet and outlet passages, a valve seat intermediate said passages, temperature responsive valve means cooperable with said valve seat for controlling fuel flow from said inlet to said outlet passage, said casing having a pilot burner outlet passage communicating with said inlet passage, valve means in said pilot passage for controlling fuel flow therethrough, said casing having a by-pass passage communicating with said main outlet passage and said pilot passage downstream of said last named valve means, said last named valve means being adapted to control the flow of fuel through said by-pass passage, and thermoelectric means for controlling the operation of both said valve means.

2'. In a control device for fluid fuel burners, the combination of a casing having main inlet and outlet passages, a valve seat intermediate said passages, temperature responsive valve means cooperable with said valve seat for controlling fuel flow from said inlet to said outlet passage, means including an adjustable element movable through a range of settings for setting the'temperature to which said valve means will respond, said casing having a pilot burner outlet passage communicating with said inlet passage, valve means in said pilot passage for controlling fuel flow therethrough, said casing having a by-pass passage communicating with said main outlet passage and said pilot passage downstream of said last named valve means, valve means in said by-pass passage and movable between positions for controlling fuel flow therethrough, thermoelectric means for controlling the operation of said temperature responsive and said pilot valve means, and means for moving said by-pass valve means from one to another of said positions in response to movement of saidadjustable element to one of said temperature settings.

3, In a control device for fluid fuel burners, the combination of a casing having main inlet and outlet passages, a valve seat intermediate said passages, temperature responsive valve means cooperable with said valve seat for controlling fuel flow from said inlet to said outlet passage, means including an adjustable element movable through a range of settings for adjusting the temperature to which said valve means will respond, said casing having a by-pass passage communicating with said main inlet and outlet passages, valve means in said by-pass' passage and movable between positions for controlling fuel flow therethrough, and means for moving said bypass valve means from one to another of Said positions in response to movement of said adjustable element to one of said temperature settings.

4. A control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said last named means is operable to move said by-pass valve means to a position for preventing fuel flow in said bypass passage when said adjustable element is moved to a relatively low temperature setting.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adjustable element is rotatable and cam means movable therewith is provided for moving said by-pass valve means to a position for preventing fuel flow through said by-pass passage when said element is moved to a relatively low temperature setting.

6. in a control device for fluid fuel burners, the combination of a casing having main inlet and outlet passages, a valve seat intermediate said passages, temperature responsive valve means cooperable with said valve seat for controlling fuel flow from saidinlet to said outlet passage, means including. an adjustable element movable through a range of settings for adjusting the temperature to which said valve means will respond, said casing having a pilot burner outlet passage communicating with said inlet passage, valve means in said pilot passage movable between positions for controlling fuel flow therethrough, said casing having a by-pass passage communicating with said main outlet passage and said pilot passage downstream of said last named valve means, valve means in said by-pass passage and movable between positions for controlling fuel flow therethrough, thermoelectric means including an electromagnet having an armature movable between attracted and released positions and operatively associated with said temperature responsive and pilot valve means for holding the same in fuel flow preventing positions while said armature is in said released position, and resetting means operable for positioning said armature in said attracted position and said pilot valve means in fuel flow permitting position, said reset means being operatively associated with said by-pass valve means for holding the same in fuel flow preventing position during the resetting operation.

7. A control device as claimed in claim 6 and including means for moving said by-pass valve means to fuel flow preventing position in response to movement of said adjustable element to a selected portion of said range of temperature settings.

8. Control means for fluid fuel burning appliances having a main and a pilot burner and a source of fuel, comprising temperature responsive valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the main burner, by-pass valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the main burner, means including an adjustable clement movable through a range of settings for adjusting the temperature to which said temperature responsive valve means will respond, and means for moving said by-pass valve means from one to another of said positions in response to movement of said adjustable element to one of said temperature settings.

9. Control means for fluid fuel burning appliances having a main and a pilot burner and a source of fuel, comprising temperature responsive valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the main burner, auxiliary valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the pilot burner, conduit means for supplying fuel from said auxiliary valve means to the main burner, by-pass valve means in said conduit means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from said auxiliary valve means to the main burner, and thermoelectric means for controlling the operation of said temperature responsive and said auxiliary valve means.

10. Control means as claimed in claim 9 and including means having an adjustable element movable through a range of settings for adjusting the temperature to which said temperature responsive valve means will respond, and means for moving said by-pass valve means from one to another of said positions in response to movement of said adjustable element to one of said temperature settings.

11. Control means as claimed in claim 9 wherein said thermoelectric means includes an electromagnet having an armature movable between attracted and released positions and operatively associated with said temperature responsive and auxiliary valve means for holding the same in fuel flow preventing position while said armature is in said released position, and resetting means operable for positioning said armature in sa'd attracted position and said auxiliary valve means in fuel flow permitting position, said reset means being operatively associated with said'by-pass valve means for holding the same in fuel flow preventing position during the resetting operation.

12. Control means for fluid-fuel burning appliances having a main and a pilot burner and a source of fuel, comprising temperature responsive valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the main burner, by-pass valve means movable between open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from the source to the main burner sponsive and said by-pass valve means in said closed positions during the resetting operation.

13. Control means for fluid fuel burning appliances having a main and a pilot burner and a source of fuel, comprising first conduit means for supplying fuel from the source to the main burner, valve means movable between 10 eration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

